Meet Jade. She’s 23 and, like many in her generation, she manages much of her life on her phone: tracking her period through an app, reading pediatrician reviews in Facebook groups, and scrolling TikTok for breastfeeding tips. She likely knows more about postpartum health resources than her mother did, but she’s also overwhelmed by conflicting advice.
After giving birth, Jade is told to come back for a six-week checkup. By week three, she thinks she feels “fine” and decides to skip it. Just like the many mothers who report that reason in surveys. In her home state of Wisconsin, Medicaid coverage tied to her pregnancy expires at 60 days. Worried about potential bills, she opts not to schedule the visit.
By month four, Jade feels trapped. She cries daily and leaves the house with anxiety. These are signs of postpartum depression, but without insurance or care she remains untreated. At work, her attendance declines. Her manager labels her “unreliable,” and within six months Jade fears quitting is her only option.
Though fictional, Jade’s story echoes the experience of many Gen Z mothers today.
Medicaid And Gen Z
Gen Z moms grew up in a world of information overload: instant medical advice, peer support forums, and open conversations about mental health. This gives them tools for advocacy their working mothers didn’t have.
Still, surveys show 81% of Gen Z delayed a health checkup or important screening beyond recommended timelines, often due to anxiety or discomfort. The most common reason for skipping postpartum care? “I felt fine.”
Gen Z mothers already report higher mental health diagnosis rates. And for entry-level Gen Z mothers like Jade, Medicaid is often the only safety net. When coverage extends the full 12 months postpartum, women can stay insured, attend appointments, refill prescriptions, and access mental health care.
Research backs this up. A 2025 JAMA Health Forum study found that extending Medicaid to one year postpartum significantly improved insurance retention and increased use of postpartum services. Broader evidence shows Medicaid expansion improves maternal health access not just after delivery, but also during pregnancy and in the months leading up to it.
Yet coverage remains inconsistent, leaving mothers like Jade vulnerable at precisely the point when serious risks like postpartum depression are most likely to emerge, and leaving employers to pick up the slack.
Economic And Workforce Impact
Skipped postpartum care is an economic red flag. Untreated depression, chronic illness, and delayed recovery lead to absenteeism, turnover, and productivity loss for employers. Maternal mental health conditions alone cost the U.S. an estimated $14.2 billion for 2017 births. It’s a burden spread across healthcare systems, families, and businesses. Research also links postpartum depression to increased odds of unemployment and long-term hardship.
But the cycle can be fixed:
- Provide 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage in all states, ensuring insurance continuity.
- Enforce fair coverage for postpartum mental health care, making screening and therapy accessible and affordable.
- Start checkups at three weeks, not six.
- Expand telehealth services for postpartum care, including mental health screenings.
- Provide comprehensive paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, and a “transition month”: a phased return to work that reduces burnout and improves retention.
- Offer digital health benefits through employee assistance programs, such as 24/7 teletherapy and maternal wellness platforms.
The Bigger Picture
Digital fluency doesn’t get Gen Z mothers into doctors’ offices. Many still skip postpartum care. And TikTok can’t replace regular mental health screenings. Gen Z mothers, navigating outdated care models and inconsistent insurance, are at risk of repeating a historic cycle: untreated illness, workplace instability, and stalled economic participation.
If the cycle isn’t fixed, Gen Z mothers will repeat history. The effects will ripple through their careers and the broader labor force. Left unaddressed, this could deepen the motherhood penalty and contribute to workforce shortages of women. Improving postpartum care is one of the most effective economic strategies to retain the next generation of working mothers.